Music to Cook By

Happy March everyone! How was your leap day yesterday? Everyone on social media kept saying, “*blank* is what I’m doing with my extra day!” “Bonus day!” yadda yadda yadda. I mean, yes it was an “extra” day of February and an additional day to get your shiz together before March, complete any February goals you may have made for yourself, or another day to make yourself better than the last. HOWEVER, “extra” my tuchas. It was an additional day at work, not an extra day to do fun things. Count yourself lucky if the 29th was exciting!

March! The month of:

-My Nonna’s birthday (today! 95 y/o!)-My birthday!! (Sunday, 27 y/oooold)-St. Patrick’s Day! Because meadow green is truly the prettiest color-My dad’s birthday (March 19th! Age undisclosed)-Easter (Not that I celebrate but bunnies and pastel colors are cute and chocolate is yummy)-Spring! Although I have mixed emotions on this one. I am quite disappointed with the lack of Winter and Snow we have had thus far. If you’re reading this Mother Nature – I would appreciate more snow! Perhaps even a Friday snow day if you could muster! No pressure J-Any other March event I’m missing I should add?

Now onto my March playlist!! I compiled this absolute hodgepodge of a mix based on my favorite songs and artists growing up. I have distinct memories of (almost) each of these songs and artists. Eclectic, yes! I hope you enjoy my anecdotes :)

Crash Test Dummies – Afternoons & Coffeespoons

-All through elementary school my family would drive to New Hampshire every Summer to meet a few other families for a Group vacation. This album was one of probably 3 we could all agree on, therefor it was on repeat quite a bit. I never tired of it!

Eve 6 – Inside Out

-One of the very few songs my sister and I sung* together in the car growing up (*by “sung” I mean she sang and I belted off key)

Everclear – Father of Mine

-This was the second of probably 3 radio tunes mentioned above with said sister

Joss Stone – Fell In Love With A Boy

-I don’t remember much expect I saw her perform this song on a TV special and years later I still love it.

Otis Redding – (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay

-I’m drawing a blank… whoopsies

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son

- My dad inherited a killer record collection from is brother and my mom had a pretty good one growing up too. Once I discovered the records, that was it!

Dave Matthews Band – Shake Me Like a Monkey

-This song was on the record released after their original saxophone player (LeRoi Moore) and I really didn’t think that I could ever feel the same way about DMB, and then Jeff Coffin joined and they released this album and I understood- the show must go on.

C & C Music Factory – Things That Make You Go Hmmmm…

-I do not know who introduced me to them, all I know is that I listened to this album ad nauseum growing up in my Walk-Man and as soon as I went digital I played it on repeat on my 2nd gen iPod. I still love running to this record to this day.

The Subways – I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say

-In high school I was fortunate enough to go on a trip to London. When I was there I walked into HMV music store and asked the salesman which two albums are currently popular in England that I would not have heard in the United States. This was one of them (The Kooks was the other, and I’m obsessed with them). Thank you kind sir!

*NSYNC – Girlfriend

- Obvi I had to include *NSYNC, but I chose ‘Girlfriend’ because JC was my favorite and he was super flyyy in that music video.

Curtis Mayfield – Pusherman

-Again with the discovery of my parents’ record collection years ago

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground

-Ugh, so good. Again, not sure what the trigger was for this but so good, so good.

Sly & The Family Stone – I Want to Take You Higher

-Parents music collection (however, note that I did not say ‘my parents introduced me to them, ha)

Damien Rice – Me, My Yoke And I

- I’m not sure if my dad turned me on to him or if it spurred out of The Shins or something. I just remember listening on repeat and my dad listening to all of Damien Rice’s albums.

Jamie Cullum – Catch The Sun

-One Summer during High School I went to Berklee College of Music for a 5 week Summer program. One of my friends made me watch a DVD of this bloke, *praise the lord*

Cat Stevens – The Wind

-Pretty sure this was the only CD my mom would ever request to be played in the car.